How do you optimize your blog post for search engines?
Of course, we know that the sole intent of writing content is to solve problems, enhance the life of your reader and grow your business.
But
you should also realize that to successfully reach this audience,
you’ll need to follow some basic rules. No, these rules aren’t set on
stone and you can adjust and do whatever pleases you along the way.
The bottom line is to focus on rich and valuable content. And I’m not going to bore you with quality content,
because it’s almost become a cliche. Instead, let’s quickly look at
five things you ought to do before hitting the publish button on your editing workspace.
1. Write keyword-rich headline
How catchy is your headline?
That’s the first thing you must do before publishing your blog post.
Most likely, you want people to click and read the content, when it
appears on search engine result pages (SERPs).
Don’t
be deceived by Panda, Penguin and EMDs updates, keywords are still very
important. There is a big difference between stuffing and using
keywords effectively. Having your target key term on the headline can
make it sticky, search engine-friendly and click-worthy.
Let’s assume that your target key phrase is “social media tips.” Now, go ahead and add it on your headline – then use other qualifiers to make it more attractive. Take a look at this headline: “Best 7 social media tips for website owners.”
2. Make your introduction catchy
After the headline, the introduction is also very important.
Did you realize that Google spider would index the intro and display it on their search results, if you didn’t include the description using any of the SEO plugins available to WordPress users?
How do you make your intro catchy? It’s quite simple – just ask a question or tell a story.
Personally, I’ve used storytelling several times to hook my reader. Life is full of stories.
Every day, we wake up to a new realm of stories and your ability to use them creatively can make your blog post valuable.
Don’t forget to use your keyword too much at this point, just add it naturally as though it’s required in the post.
If the key term doesn’t look natural or flow smoothly, don’t even bother squeezing it into the intro.
3. Build up interest with each paragraph
When
you write a blog post, what do you think is the ultimate goal? Sure,
some people have different goals for their content, but first, we need
readers who can take action: join our email list, click a link, buy our product or contact us for one-on-one coaching.
If
that’s the case, building up interest is paramount. And that’s why we
write each paragraph as though it depends on the previous. There should
be a nexus – so that readers can enjoy and make decisions even before
getting to the call to action points.
Even at each paragraph, create
a perfect expectation for your reader. Let them know that there is a
benefit for them, only if they can read the entire post. Creating
engagement is the best SEO strategy – because it reveals the value of your content. Believe me, engagement is what Google craves after.
4. Follow Latent Semantic Index rule
I’d like to explain this rule with an illustration. Did you know that when you’re writing about Microsoft and their products, Google expects you to mention Bill Gates, windows 7 and other related keywords and phrases?
So, when you use related terms, your search engine optimization would be valuable. Because naturally, you’re giving credits to important terms, not just the target.
I’ve used this strategy on my online store where I promote men’s underwear, trunk, sleepwear, shape wear et al. By including these terms, Google would value your content highly.
As
for your target readers, they’d enjoy the blog post knowing that of a
truth, you’re an expert in your niche. Henceforth, don’t just target a
particular term, find other related terms and use them naturally in your
posts.
5. Interlink your inner pages
A common rule, but some bloggers still don’t implement it. When you write content for your blog, you need to interlink relevant pages.
You may not anchor link the primary keyword. You could find other related terms and use them to connect your previous pages.
Ideally, your landing pages should be anchored in every post you make. This way, you can channel more potential visitors to your email list. Don’t forget that building your email list is the #1 assignment when you’re marketing online.
If you can follow those 5 SEO tips, your blog content would definitely get the upper hand and attract organic traffic easily. Search engine optimization isn’t supposed to be tedious or confusing – just by following simple rules, you can enjoy the fruit thereby.
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